What the papers say: ‘Lok put the heat on Bayer’

The Kölnische Rundschau declares: "Comeback fails; Bayer Leverkusen got off to a disastrous false start on their return to the top European stage against the supposedly easiest opponents in the group. After an absence of 917 days, the Werkself suffered a 2-1 defeat in the opening fixture in the Champions League against the Russian league runners-up Lokomotiv Moscow, that included the German World Cup winner from Rio Benedikt Höwedes, after a poor performance, particularly in the first half, that represents a bitter setback at the start of the cut-throat Group D."

For the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger the defeat for the Werkself was, "a real humiliation. … The dream of qualifying for the Round of 16 in a group including Juventus and Atletico Madrid appears to be an unachievable fantasy after the very first game with the loss of three points on their own ground against the rank outsiders."

Under the headline, 'Lok put the heat on Bayer', the analysis in the Kicker reads: "The fact that some things were starting to head in the wrong direction was evident after the equaliser: In spite of 76% possession, the Bayer eleven only had two shots on goal in the first half hour compared with five for Lok Moscow… Inexplicable misplaced passes in dangerous areas were typical of the game played by the Bundesliga side who threw punches like a crazed heavyweight, were unable to land an effective blow and instead always ran the risk of being hit on the break. … Bayer did exert more pressure in the second half but, because accuracy with the final ball was missing, there was rarely a threat on goal. Moscow clocked up a lacklustre win as they profited from Bayer's crass negligence without making many mistakes themselves."

The report in the Bild reads: "Flops, bad luck and mishaps at Leverkusen! Bayer lose 2-1 in the opener against Lok Moscow and are now under massive pressure in the games away to Juventus (1 October) and Atletico Madrid (22 October)."

The Rheinische Post highlights the fact that the introduction of Lucas Alario in the second half "brought life into the previously harmless offensive play by Leverkusen. Bayer now played with greater pressure and had good chances through Havertz and Alario (50'/52'). The visitors from the Russian capital fell back deeper into their own half minute by minute. The Werkself attacked but were unable to find any gaps in the Russian defence."

The Westdeutsche Zeitung writes: "In the jewel of the outsiders in the cut-throat Group D, the nervous Bundesliga side conceded almost grotesque own goals against the Russian cup winners in an unforeseen 2-1 home defeat on Wednesday night."